Page 73 - DLIS006_INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES

Information Sources and Services

Notes may require humans to aid in spanning the boundaries across different knowledge domains and
different cultures.
A librarian is a person who works professionally in a library, and holds a Degree in librarianship
(known either as library science or library and information science). Traditionally, a librarian is
associated with collections of books, as demonstrated by the etymology of the word “librarian”
(Latin liber, ‘book’). The role of a librarian is continuously evolving to meet social and
technological needs. However, a modern librarian may deal with information in many formats,
including books, magazines, newspapers, audio recordings (both musical and spoken-word),
video recordings, maps, manuscripts, photographs and other graphic material, bibliographic
databases, web searching, and digital resources. A librarian may provide other information
services, including computer provision and training, coordination of public programs, basic
literacy education, and assistive equipment for people with disabilities, and help with finding
and using community resources.

The increasing role of technology in libraries has a significant impact on the changing roles of
librarians. New technologies are dramatically increasing the accessibility of information, and
librarians are adapting to the evolving needs of users that emerge from the adoption of these
new technologies.
One of the most significant examples of how technology has changed the role of librarians in the
last 50 years has been the move from traditional card catalogues to online public access catalogues
(OPACs). Librarians had to develop software and the MARC standards for cataloguing records
electronically. They had to purchase and run the computers necessary to use the software. They
had to teach the public how to use the new technologies and move to more virtual working
environments.
The same could be said of other technology developments, from electronic databases (including
the Internet), to logistical functions such as bar codes (or in the near future RFID). Many librarians
provide virtual reference services (via web-based chat, instant messaging, text messaging, and
e-mail), work in digitizing initiatives for works in the public domain, teach information literacy
and technology classes to their users, and work on the development of information architectures
for improving access and search functionality. These examples illustrate some of the ways in
which librarians are using technology to fulfil and expand upon their historical roles.
Librarians must continually adapt to new formats for information, such as electronic journals
and e-books, which present both challenges and opportunities in providing access and promoting
them to library patrons.

Increasing technological advance has presented the possibility of automating some aspects of
traditional libraries.

Notes In 2004 a group of researchers in Spain developed the UJI Online Robot. This robot
is able to navigate the library, look for the specified book and upon its discovery, carefully
take it from the shelf and deliver it to the user. Because of the robot’s extremely limited
function, its introduction into libraries poses little risk of the employment of librarians,
whose duties are not defined by menial tasks such as the retrieval of books.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:

5. The ………………………. differ from library to library.

68 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY